Electric connector



Feb. 25, 1941.

G. B. BENANDER ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Filed March 15, 1939 H3 W Ma I 1 m; u a m Inventor: George B. Benander WWW His Attorney.

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC CONNECTOR George B. Benander, oaklawn, R. 1., assignor to Monowatt Electric Corporation; a corporation of Rhode Island Application March 15, 1939, Serial No. 261,981

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electric connectors, and more particularly to detachable connectors of the type commonly employed on cord sets for use with electric heating appliances, and it is an object of this invention to provide a connector of the above type of simple and durable construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved detachable connector structure having a switching mechanism incorporated therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch type detachable connector having a position indicator for the switch mechanism which is readily visible when the connector is in use.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a connector embodying the present invention and having one half of the connector body removed; Fig. 2 is a side view of the connector of Fig. 1 partially in section; Fig. 3 is a side view of the connector having va portion broken away along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end view of the connector showing the position indicator; and Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the switch operating lever and the indicator mechanism.

As shown in the drawing, the connector comprises two companion body parts I and l I which are molded or otherwise formed of suitable insulating material. The body parts are substantially of the same construction and each is recessed from one face to provide suitable cavities for the reception of the operative parts of the connector and switching mechanism. The body parts are arranged with their recessed faces in abutting. relation on opposite sides of a longitudinal divisional plane to form a housing and are secured together by a pair of spring clips I2 and a clamp ing ring I3 which are formed of resilient sheet metal. This arrangement for securing together the body parts of a connector is more particularly disclosed in my Patent No. 1,956,410, dated April 24, 1934.

While in the following description reference' will be made largely to body part I0, it is to be understood that body part I I is a complementary part and usually is recessed in the same manner as body part I0 to receive-the parts of the connector and the switch mechanism. Where there are differences essential to an understanding of the present invention, they will be pointed out.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the body part Ill is provided with a pair of spaced parallel recesses I4 for the reception of contact members I and I6 which are adapted to receive the contact prongs of an electric appliance. A conducting strip I'I, secured at one end to the contact I5 extends along one. side of the body part III and 5 has a terminal portion I8 formed near its opposite end. The central portion of the conducting strip is offset upwardly from the face of the body part Ill and is arranged to engage a side surface of a'switch-operating lever I9. The op- 10 erating lever is formed of insulating material and is pivotally mounted with respect to the insulating body part ill by means of a suitable bolt 20 which passes through an opening in the conducting strip I'I, the opening 2| in the lever, and threadingly engages a suitable metallic insert (not shown) in the insulating body. The side wall of the body part 10 is provided with a suitable recess 22 through which a portion of the operating lever extends beyond the confines of the body. The bolt 20 serves to secure the operating lever 19, the conducting strip I 1, and the contact I5 asembled on to the body part Ill.

The other contact l6 has secured thereto a conducting strip 23 having an inwardly extending 25 contact arm 24 which is offset upwardly from the face of the body part It) and lies in substantially the same plane as the central portion of the conducting strip IT. The conducting strip 23 and contact I6 are secured to the body part I0 by a bolt 25. A terminal 26 is secured to the body part II) by a bolt 21 and is provided with an integrally formed contact portion (not shown) similar in shape to contact 24 and extending parallel and in spaced relation to the contact 24.

These contacts are arranged to beelectrically connected by a U-shaped movable contact 28 which is mounted for pivotal movement in a centrally located cavity 29 formed in the housing by cooperating recesses in the companion body parts In and I I. For mounting the movable contact 28 its opposite legs are provided with laterally extending trunnions 30 which are received in openings 3| formed in the opposed flanges 32 depending from opposite edges of a mounting strap 33. The mounting strap is preferably a sheet metal stamping having an opening 34 therethrough for the reception of the inner end 35 of the operating lever I9. Each end of the mounting strap is received in suitable slots 36 and 31 formed in the opposite walls of the cavity 29. As shown in Fig. 3, the slots are formed in both of the body parts l0 and II so that the strap is well supported throughout its width. In order to position the strap even more 56 securely the body parts are provided with suitable recesses 38 in which the lateral extensions 39 of the opposite ends of the mounting strap are positioned. A compression spring 40 is interposed between the inner end 35 of the operating lever and the base of the U-shaped contact to move the contact from one circuit-controlling position to another with a snap actionby pivotal movement of the operating lever. A lug 4| projecting from the body of the operating lever moves in a suitable arcuate groove .(not shown) in the part I and serves to limit the pivotal movement of the operating lever. The movement of the contact 28 is limited by engagement with the opposite walls of cavity 29 at the points indicated by numerals 42 and 43.

In accordance with the present invention a novel arrangement is provided for indicating the circuit-controlling position of the switch mechanism. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the companion body parts It) and II are provided with cooperating recesses 44 and 45 to provide a cavity for the reception of an indicator 46 which inthe form shown is cylindrical in shape. As shown in the drawing, the recesses are of substantially cylindrical form andare adapted to receive and rotatably mount the indicator 46 in the connector body adjacent the cord end thereof where it is readily visible through the window 41. The wall 48 of the body part II) is provided with a passage 49 extending from the recess 44 to the lower face of operating lever IQ for the reception of a link 50 which is provided to transmit movement between the operating lever l9 andthe indicating cylinder 46. As best shown in Fig. 5, the link is provided at its opposite ends with offset portions and 52 which are received in eccentrically loeated opening 53 and 54 formed in the indicating cylinder and operating lever respectively. By reference to Fig. 3 ,it is clear that the link 50 lies in the passage 49 in the face of the wall 48 of the body part ID with the offset ends extending laterally therefrom so that they are held. in place in the openings 53 and 54 when the indi-- cating cylinder and operating lever are assembled on the body part III. An extension 55 .of the terminal It extends over one end of the indi. cating cylinder and prevents its accidental removal from the recess 4| before the body part II is secured to the companion body part In. The extension is offset upwardly from the face of the body part I0 and lies in the same plane as the central portion of the conducting strap. Fig. 3 is shown with the indicating cylinder removed in order to more clearly illustrate the construction of the connector body.

The terminals l8 and 25 are connected to an electric supply circuit by a cord 56 comprising the insulated conductors 51 having bared ends 58 secured to the terminals by suitable binding screws 59. A strain relief is provided in the present construction by a U-shaped clamping member 60 which is secured to the face of body part I!) by suitable holding bolts 6| with the opposite legs thereof positioned on opposite sides of a recess 62 with which it cooperates to form a passage for the reception of the cord 56. The walls of the passage are preferably grooved as indicated at 63 to improve the gripping action on the cord. The part II is provided with a suitable opening 64 for the reception of the clamping member 60 when the body parts are assembled. The terminals l8 and 25 are provided with integral lugs 65 which are arranged to be folded over into clamping engagement with the conductors 51. As

best shown in Fig. 1, the terminals are positioned on opposite sides of the recess 62 and substantially in alignment with theinner face of the clamping member 60 so that the conductors 57 are bent over at substantially right angles to the cord as'they emerge from the strain relief. This positioning of the terminals increases the effectiveness of the strain relief. With this type of strain relief it is possible to secure the cord against movement relative to the terminals prior to the final assembly of the connector body. A cord guard and support is provided by the helicaL ly wound spring 66 having an enlarged portion 61 retained in the insulating body by engagement with the walls of a suitable recess formed in the end thereof.

From the preceding description it is apparent that the present construction is easily assembled. All of the parts are first mounted on the one body part III and held there against accidental dislocation so that the positioning of the body part i l to receive the portions of the connector and switch mechanism that protrude from the face of body part I0 is readily accomplished.

In the operation of the device of the present invention it is apparent that pivotal movement of the operating lever is effective to move the contact 28 to open or closed circuit position with a snap action. The circuit controlling position of .the switch is indicated at the cord end of the connector body by suitable indicia provided on the surface of the indicating cylinder 46. This feature is particularly desirable when incorporated in connector plugs for use with fiatirons or other devices having contact prongs which extend upwardly to such an extent as to render the end of the plug more readily visible to the user. The provision of an indicator positioned remote 1y from the switch mechanism and the simple and inexpensive construction employed are considered important features of the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by extending therefrom, said housing having a cy-.

lindrical cavity adjacent the cord end thereof and a window communicating with said cavity, an indicating cylinder mounted for rotation in said cavity, said housing having a passageway extending from said cylindrical cavity to said pivoted lever and a link positioned in said passageway and having its opposite ends connected eccentrically to said indicating cylinder and said lever to rotate said indicating cylinder in response to pivotal movement ofsaid operating lever to indicate through said opening the position of said switch mechanism; I

2. A switch type attachment plug comprising an elongated housing of insulating material, said housing being apertured at one end to receive the contact prongs of an electrical appliance and apertured at the other end to receive an electric cord, switch mechanism in said housing, a switch-operating lever pivotally mounted in said housing and having a portion extending therefrom, said housing having a cavity adjacent th cord end thereof and an opening communicating with said cavity, an indicator positioned insaid cavity and movable relative to said housing, and a link having one end connected to said indicator and the other end connected eccentrically to said pivoted lever to move said indicator in response to pivotal movement of said lever to indicate through said opening the position of said switch mechanism.

3. In a switch type attachment plug an elongated housing of insulating material, said housing being apertured at one end for the reception of the contact prongs of an electrical appliance and provided near the opposite end thereof with a recess and an opening communicating therewith, a switch mechanism mounted in said housing and having a movable element, an indicator positioned in said recess and visible through said opening from the exterior of said housing when said attachment plug is positioned on an electrical appliance, and a mechanical connection between said movable element of said switching mechanism and said indicator for moving said indicator in response to movement of the movable switch element to indicate through said opening the circuit controlling position of said switch mechanism.

4. In a switch type attachment plug, an insulating housing comprising two companion body parts positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal plane, each of said body parts having a substantially cylindrical recess formed therein adjacent an end thereof, a switch mechanism in said housing including a pivoted lever, an indicator having its opposite ends positioned in said recesses for rotation relative to said housing, said pivoted lever and said indicator each having an eccentrically located axially extending opening formed therein, and a link having a lateral ofiset portion at each end positioned in one of said openings to form a driving connection between said lever and said indicator, said link being positioned adjacent a wall of one of said body parts with said lateral oflset portions extending outwardly therefrom whereby said lateral offset portions are held in said openings when said indicator and lever are assembled on said one of said body parts.

GEORGE B. BENANDER. 

